Transducer apparatus including transducer with recording medium contact line perpendicular to transducer pivot axis

ABSTRACT

A transducer supporting apparatus (K1-K7) comprises: a transducer (11, 12) which confronts a recording medium (1) and is moved relative to the recording medium (1) in a direction (R) so as to record and reproduce information on the recording medium (1); a slider (21-27) which is coupled with the transducer (11, 12) and includes a projecting member (21a-25a; 26a, 26b; 27a, 27b) protruding towards the recording medium (1); a pivot member (31-33; 35-37) for pivotally supporting the slider (21-27) so as to pivot the slider (21-27) about a pivot axis (x-axis) substantially parallel to the recording medium (1) and at least not parallel to a contact line (C) between the projecting member (21a-25a; 26a, 26b; 27a, 27b) and the recording medium (1); and a loading member (31-33; 35-37) for depressing the projecting member (21a-25a; 26a, 26b; 27a, 27b) against the recording medium (1); wherein the contact line (C) is oriented in a direction other than the direction (R) of relative movement between the recording medium (1) and the transducer (11, 12).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to transducer supportingapparatuses for supporting transducers of a type brought into slidingcontact with a medium, for example, a magnetic head and moreparticularly, to a transducer supporting apparatus for supporting atransducer such as a sliding contact type magnetic head of a magneticrecording apparatus and a magnetooptical recording and reproducingapparatus which are used as an external storage of an electroniccomputer, a recording and reproducing apparatus for recording andreproducing musical and image signals and other information, etc.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, magnetic tapes or flexible disks have been mainlyemployed for magnetic recording of a type in which a magnetic head isused as a transducer so as to be brought into sliding contact with amedium. However, in recent years, so-called mini disks have becomepopular for musical magnetooptical recording. In order to provide atransducer supporting apparatus in which magnetooptical overwriting canbe easily performed through modulation of a magnetic field, the minidisks are arranged for use with a sliding contact type magnetic head anda sliding contact film for sliding contact with the magnetic head isformed on the medium.

One sliding contact type magnetic heads for magnetooptical recording, inwhich a medium is slid not continuously but only at the time of startand stop of the magnetic head is known from Japanese Patent Laid-OpenPublication No. 4-132060 (1992). In this known magnetic head, one faceof a slider confronting a disk acting as a magnetooptical recordingmedium is flat and is formed by resinous material having excellent wearresistance and lubricating properties such that wear and damage of theslider and the disk are prevented.

Meanwhile, one suspension applicable to the above mentioned knownmagnetic head is well known from Japanese Patent Laid-Open PublicationNo. 55-22296 (1980). This prior art suspension includes a gimbals havingtwo degrees of freedom for causing the slider to follow tilt of the diskand a load beam for producing a load for depressing the slider againstthe disk.

However, these conventional magnetic heads have the following drawbacks.Namely, since the gimbals for causing the flat slider to follow the diskshould have at least two rotational axes requiring accurate formation,inexpensive manufacturing techniques such as pressing cannot be employedfor producing the gimbals, so that the gimbals becomes quite expensive,thereby resulting in increased production cost of the transducersupporting apparatus.

Meanwhile, the gimbals referred to above can be naturally rotated alsoin a pitching direction relative to a sliding direction of the disk.Therefore, if the disk is slid improperly, the slider is likely to be,so to speak, plunged into the disk, thus causing great damage to thedisk.

Furthermore, due to minute pitching motions of the gimbals, stick slipphenomenon, i.e., vibrations caused by variations of frictional forcehappen readily, so that frictional force becomes unstable and thus,durability of the disk deteriorates, thereby resulting in reducedreliability of the transducer supporting apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has for its object to provide, with aview to eliminating the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art,a transducer supporting apparatus in which a medium is slid stablywithout pitching motions of a gimbals and which can be produced easilyat low cost.

In order to accomplish this object, a transducer supporting apparatusaccording to the present invention comprises: a transducer whichconfronts a recording medium and is moved relative to the recordingmedium in a direction so as to record and reproduce information on therecording medium; a sliding means which is coupled with the transducerand includes a projecting member protruding towards the recordingmedium; wherein when the projecting member is brought into contact withthe recording medium, a substantially straight contact region is formedbetween the projecting member and the recording medium and a segmentextending through a longitudinal central axis of the contact region andbounded by opposite ends of the contact region is defined as a contactline; a pivot means for pivotally supporting the sliding means so as topivot the sliding means about a pivot axis substantially parallel to therecording medium and substantially perpendicular to the contact line;and a loading means for depressing the projecting member against therecording medium; wherein the contact line is oriented in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the direction of relative movementbetween the recording medium and the transducer.

By this arrangement of the transducer supporting apparatus of thepresent invention, the sliding means can be pivoted only about the axissubstantially perpendicular to the contact line and is not pivoted aboutan axis parallel to the contact line. Since moment caused by frictionalforce between the projecting member and the recording medium due torelative movement between the recording medium and the transducer isapplied about the axis parallel to the contact line, the sliding meansis not pivoted by this moment and thus, unstable pitching motions of thesliding means due to the frictional force do not occur. Meanwhile, incase the recording medium is tilted about the axis substantiallyperpendicular to the contact line, the sliding means is pivoted by thepivot means so as to cause the transducer to follow the recordingmedium. On the other hand, in case the recording medium is tilted aboutthe axis parallel to the contact line, the sliding means is not tiltedbut the projecting member follows the recording medium so as to causethe transducer to follow the recording medium.

This object and features of the present invention will become clear fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the preferredembodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawingsthroughout which like parts are designated by like reference numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transducer supporting apparatusaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of the transducer supporting apparatus ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a side elevational view of the transducer supportingapparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is another partly sectional side elevational view of thetransducer supporting apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a view indicative of operation of the transducer supportingapparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B is another view indicative of operation of the transducersupporting apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a transducer supporting apparatusaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a view indicative of operation of the transducer supportingapparatus of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6B is another view indicative of operation of the transducersupporting apparatus of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a transducer supporting apparatusaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view indicative of operation of the transducer supportingapparatus of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a transducer supporting apparatusaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10A is a top plan view of the transducer supporting apparatus ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 10B is a side elevational view of the transducer supportingapparatus of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11A is a view indicative of operation of the transducer supportingapparatus of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11B is another view indicative of operation of the transducersupporting apparatus of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a modification of the transducersupporting apparatus of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a transducer supporting apparatusaccording to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the transducer supportingapparatus of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a transducer supporting apparatusaccording to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16A is a view indicative of operation of the transducer supportingapparatus of FIG. 15.

FIG. 16B is another view indicative of operation of the transducersupporting apparatus of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a transducer supporting apparatusaccording to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention aredescribed with reference to the attached drawings. Initially, atransducer supporting apparatus K1 according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention is described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4B.In this embodiment, a magnetic head suitable for a sliding contact typemagnetooptical disk 1 is recited as a transducer. A right-handorthogonal system of coordinates is defined as shown in these figures.In FIGS. 2B and 3, the transducer supporting apparatus K1 is viewed inthe plus direction of the x-axis and in the minus direction of they-axis, respectively.

In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the magnetooptical disk 1 acts as a recordingmedium. A sliding contact surface suitable for sliding contact with themagnetic head is formed on one face of the magnetooptical disk 1oriented in the plus direction of the z-axis. In FIG. 1, a slider 21acting as a sliding means is formed by resin such as liquid crystalpolymer, nylon, etc. A cylindrical surface 21a having a generating lineextending in parallel with the y-axis is formed as a projection on oneface of the slider 21 oriented in the minus direction of the z-axis. Asshown in FIG. 3, the cylindrical surface 21a of the slider 21 is broughtinto sliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1.

At the time the cylindrical surface 21a is brought into contact with themagnetooptical disk 1, a substantially straight contact region extendingin parallel with y-axis is formed therebetween. A segment extendingthrough a center of this contact region and bounded by opposite ends ofthe contact region is referred to as a contact line C. In case themagnetooptical disk 1 is free from defective flatness, etc., the contactline C is defined as a contact line C₀ as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a magnetic core 11 and a coil 12 are mountedon the slider 21 so as to constitute the magnetic head acting as thetransducer in this embodiment. The coil 12 is a source of magnetomotiveforce for imparting a magnetic field to the magnetooptical disk 1, whilethe magnetic core 11 is formed by a ferrite piece for guiding magneticflux from the coil 12 to the magnetooptical disk 1. The magnetic core 11is disposed at a location spaced a predetermined distance from thecylindrical surface 21a in the direction of the x-axis.

As the magnetic core 11 comes closer to the magnetooptical disk 1, aratio of strength of magnetic field imparted to the magnetooptical disk1 to magnitude of electric current flowing through the coil 12 isincreased further, namely, efficiency is improved. However, for thefollowing reason, it is not preferable that the magnetic core 11 is heldin contact with the magnetooptical disk 1. Namely, if the magnetoopticaldisk 1 is brought into sliding contact with a hard member such as themagnetic core 11, the magnetooptical disk 1 is readily subjected to wearand damage. Therefore, the resinous cylindrical surface 21a projectsfurther by a predetermined amount in the minus direction of the z-axisthan the magnetic core 11 so as to prevent contact of the magnetic core11 with the magnetooptical disk 1.

In FIG. 1, a load beam 31 acts not only as a loading means fordepressing the slider 21 against the magnetooptical disk 1 but as apivot means for causing the slider 21 to follow the tilt, etc. of themagnetooptical disk 1. The load beam 31 is preferably formed by astainless steel sheet having a thickness of about 0.03 to 0.2 mm. Morespecifically, the load beam 31 may be formed by SUS 301-CSP or SUS304-CSP specified for cold rolled stainless steel strip for spring bythe Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). The load beam 31 is constitutedby a rigid portion 31a having large rigidity about the x-axis tobending, a load generating portion 31b and a flat platelike fixingportion 31e extending continuously from the load generating portion 31b.The load generating portion 31b is formed by subjecting a flat platelikemember to substantially cylindrical plastic deformation about thex-axis. The fixing portion 31e is provided for securing the transducersupporting apparatus K1 to a fixing base 91 shown in FIG. 2B. Theloading means for depressing the slider 21 against the magnetoopticaldisk 1 is constituted by the rigid portion 31a, the load generatingmeans 31b and the fixing portion 31e.

A square fixing plate 41 for increasing rigidity of the fixing portion31e at the time the transducer supporting apparatus K1 is secured to thefixing base 91 is attached to the fixing portion 31e by spot welding,etc. Two screw holes 31f are formed in the fixing portion 31e and arecontinuously communicated with two screw holes 41a in the fixing plate41, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2A, a flat platelike slider mountingportion 31d is provided, through a pair of gimbals 31c, at one end ofthe rigid portion 31a disposed at a plus side in the direction of they-axis so as to be surrounded by an opening. Since the gimbals 31c havea small width in the direction of the y-axis and a quite small thicknessin the direction of the z-axis, the slider mounting portion 31d ispivotally supported by the gimbals 31c so as to be pivoted about x-axis.The pivot means for causing the slider 21 to follow the tilt, etc. ofthe magnetooptical disk 1 is constituted by the rigid portion 31a, thegimbals 31c and the slider mounting portion 31d.

The slider 21 is mounted on the slider mounting portion 31d of the loadbeam 31 by techniques such as ultrasonic fusion bonding. Relative to thefixing portion 31e, the slider 21 has degrees of freedom of merelypivoting about the x-axis by action of the gimbals and translationsubstantially in the direction of the z-axis by action of the loadgenerating portion 31b.

In FIG. 2A, the magnetooptical disk 1 is rotated in the direction of thearrow R. However, in the vicinity of the slider 21 in FIG. 1, therotational direction R of the magnetooptical disk 1 can be regarded as adirection of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1 relative to theslider 21. Hence, hereinafter, character R is defined as the directionof movement of the magnetooptical disk 1. As shown in FIG. 2A, a pivotalcentral axis of the gimbals 31c extends perpendicularly to the contactline C₀ and is disposed at a center of the contact line C₀ in thedirection of the y-axis. In the vicinity of the contact line C₀, thedirection R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1 extendsperpendicularly to the contact line C₀.

In this embodiment, a longitudinal axis of the transducer supportingapparatus K1 extends from the slider 21 to the fixing plate 41 inparallel with the y-axis. This longitudinal axis of the transducersupporting apparatus K1 is defined as a main axis of the transducersupporting apparatus K1. In case the transducer supporting apparatus K1is applied to the magnetooptical disk 1 as in this embodiment, thefixing base 91 is generally a structure extending continuously to anoptical head (not shown). The fixing base 91 is accessible in a radialdirection of the magnetooptical disk 1, namely, in the direction of thearrow A in FIG. 2A by a known radial feeding mechanism, i.e., aso-called seeking mechanism (not shown).

Since constructions of the gimbals 31, etc. of the load beam 31 areminute, it is difficult to employ excellent mass production methods suchas blanking for manufacture of the load beam 31 and thus, ratherexpensive production methods such as etching should be employed formanufacture of the load beam 31.

Hereinafter, operation of the transducer supporting apparatus K1 of theabove described arrangement is described. As shown in FIG. 2A, thetransducer supporting apparatus K1 is disposed such that the main axisof the transducer supporting apparatus K1 extends in the radialdirection of the magnetooptical disk 1. As a result, the contact line C₀becomes parallel to the radial direction of the magnetooptical disk 1.When the transducer supporting apparatus K1 has been mounted on thefixing base 91 by using screws (not shown) or the like at the fixingportion 31e as shown in FIG. 2B, the cylindrical surface 21a of theslider 21 is brought into contact with the magnetooptical disk 1, sothat the load generating portion 31b is elastically deformed to asubstantially flat shape by force applied from the magnetooptical disk 1to the slider 21 and thus, the rigid portion 31a becomes substantiallyparallel to the magnetooptical disk 1. As a result, the slider 21 isdepressed against the magnetooptical disk 1 through the rigid portion31a, the gimbals 31c and the slider mounting portion 31d by an elasticrestoring force of the load generating portion 31b.

Initially, in case the magnetooptical disk 1 has neither displacementnor tilt due to defective flatness, etc., the cylindrical surface 21 isbrought into contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 at the contactregion in the vicinity of the contact line C₀ as shown in FIGS. 2A and3. When the magnetooptical disk 1 is rotated about the z-axis in thedirection of the arrow R in FIG. 2A by a spindle motor (not shown), thecylindrical surface 21a is brought into sliding contact with themagnetooptical disk 1. Since the fixing base 91 can be set in thedirection of the arrow A of FIG. 2A, the slider 21 can be set to adesired location on the magnetooptical disk 1.

FIG. 3 shows sliding contact of the cylindrical surface 21a with themagnetooptical disk 1 in detail. Due to friction between the slider 21and the magnetooptical disk 1, a sliding frictional force Fs is appliedto the slider 21 in the minus direction of the x-axis, so that a momentabout the y-axis is applied to the slider mounting portion 31d. Assumingthat character H denotes a distance between the magnetooptical disk 1and the slider mounting portion 31d as shown in FIG. 3, this moment isexpressed by Fs×H. However, the slider mounting portion 31d is allowedto be pivoted only about the x-axis by action of the gimbals 31c but hasquite large rigidity against the above mentioned moment about the y-axisand therefore, is not pivoted about the y-axis. Accordingly, since theattitude of the slider 21 is kept stable against the sliding frictionalforce Fs, undesirable pitching motions of the prior art do not occur inthe slider 21. If the coil 12 is turned on in this state, a magneticfield for recording or erasure is imparted to the magnetooptical disk 1via the magnetic core 11. Since recording itself on the magnetoopticaldisk 1 is well known, its description is abbreviated for the sake ofbrevity.

Next, operation of the transducer supporting apparatus K1 in the casewhere the magnetooptical disk 1 is tilted due to its defective flatness,etc. will be described. In FIG. 4A, the transducer supporting apparatusK1 is viewed in the plus direction of the x-axis. FIG. 4A shows a statethat the magnetooptical disk 1 is tilted about the x-axis, i.e., an axisnot parallel to the contact line C₀. Since the slider 21 is depressedagainst the magnetooptical disk 1 by the elastic restoring force of theload generating portion 31b and can be pivoted about the x-axis byaction of the gimbals 31c, the slider 21 is pivoted in accordance withtilt of the magnetooptical disk 1 while the cylindrical surface 21a andthe magnetooptical disk 1 are being held in contact with each other asshown in FIG. 4A, so that the cylindrical surface 21a is held in stablesliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1. As a result, themagnetic core 11 follows the magnetooptical disk 1 completely and thus,excellent efficiency of the transducer supporting apparatus K1 ismaintained.

In FIG. 4B, the transducer supporting apparatus K1 is viewed in theminus direction of the y-axis. FIG. 4B shows a state in which themagnetooptical disk 1 is tilted about the y-axis, i.e., an axis parallelto the contact line C₀. Since the slider 21 does not have a degree offreedom of pivoting about the y-axis, the slider 21 is not capable offollowing the tilt of the magnetooptical disk 1 about the y-axis.However, since the cylindrical surface 21a having the generating lineextending in parallel with the y-axis is provided, the cylindricalsurface 21a is brought into contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 alongthe contact line C different from the contact line C₀, so that thecylindrical surface 21a is held in stable sliding contact with themagnetooptical disk 1. At this time, the distance between the magneticcore 11 and the magnetooptical disk 1 varies slightly but this variationcan be compensated for by supplying to the coil 12 electric currentcapable of producing sufficient magnetic field even in a state where themagnetic core 11 and the magnetooptical disk 1 are spaced farthest fromeach other.

As described above in this embodiment, the cylindrical surface 21aprojects further towards the magnetooptical disk 1 than the magneticcore 11, the contact line C₀ between the cylindrical surface 21a and themagnetooptical disk 1 extends perpendicularly to the direction R ofmovement of the magnetooptical disk 1 and the pivotal axis of thegimbals 31c intersects with the contact line C₀ orthogonally.Accordingly, the slider 21 has the degree of freedom of pivoting aboutonly the axis parallel to the direction R of movement of themagnetooptical disk 1. Meanwhile, since the pivot axis of the moment ofthe sliding frictional force Fs applied to the slider 21 intersects withthe direction R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1 orthogonally,unstable motions in the pitching direction such as stick slip do notoccur in the slider 21. Consequently, the slider 21 is held in quitestable sliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1.

Meanwhile, when the magnetooptical disk 1 is tilted about the axisparallel to the direction R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1,the slider 21 is pivoted so as to follow the magnetooptical disk 1. Onthe other hand, when the magnetooptical disk 1 is tilted about the axisperpendicular to the direction R of movement of the magnetooptical disk1, the slider 21 does not change its attitude and is held in stablesliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 along the specificcontact line C.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pivot central pivot axis of thegimbals 31c extends perpendicularly to the contact line C₀ and isdisposed at the center of the contact line C₀ in the direction of they-axis. Therefore, even when the magnetooptical disk 1 is tiltedslightly about the x-axis, difference between forces applied fromopposite ends of the contact line C of the cylindrical surface 21a isuniformly applied, as a moment, to the gimbals 31c regardless of thetilting direction of the magnetooptical disk 1 and thus, the slider 21follows the magnetooptical disk 1 promptly.

Meanwhile, in accordance with design conditions, the angle formedbetween the central pivot axis of the gimbals 31c and the contact lineC₀ may deviate from 90° to such a degree that operating performancesallow or the central pivot axis of the gimbals 31c may be spaced awayfrom the center of the contact line C₀ in the direction of the y-axis.

In addition, in this embodiment, since the loading means and the pivotmeans are formed integrally in the load beam 31, production cost of thetransducer supporting apparatus K1 can be lowered in comparison with acase in which the pivot means is provided additionally. It is needlessto say that even if the pivot means is provided independently of theload beam 31, the transducer supporting apparatus K1 can function quitesatisfactorily, which falls within scope of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a transducer supporting apparatus K2 according to a secondembodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS.5 to 6B. In the same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K1, amagnetic head suitable for a sliding contact type magnetooptical disk isrecited as a transducer also in this embodiment. A right-hand orthogonalsystem of coordinates is defined as shown in these figures. In FIGS. 6Aand 6B, the transducer supporting apparatus K2 is viewed in the plusdirection of the x-axis and in the minus direction of the y-axis. InFIGS. 5 to 6B, the magnetooptical disk 1, the magnetic core 11, the coil12 and the fixing plate 41 of the transducer supporting apparatus K2 arethe same as those of the transducer supporting apparatus K1.

A slider 22 is made of resinous material in the same manner as theslider 21 of the transducer supporting apparatus K1 and is mounted onthe slider mounting portion 31d in the same manner as the transducersupporting apparatus K1. A pair of cylindrical surfaces 22a, each actingas a projection having a generating line extending in a directionparallel to the y-axis, are formed not only on one face of the slider 22confronting the magnetooptical disk 1 and oriented in the minusdirection of the z-axis but at opposite sides of the slider 22 in thedirection parallel to the y-axis.

At the time the cylindrical surfaces 22a are brought into contact withthe magnetooptical disk 1, two substantially straight contact regionsextending in parallel with the y-axis are formed therebetween. A segmentextending through a center of the two contact regions and bounded byopposite ends of the contact regions is referred to as a contact line C.In case the magnetooptical disk 1 is free from defective flatness, etc.,the contact line C is defined as a contact line C₀ as shown in FIG. 5.

The magnetic core 11 and the coil 12 are mounted on the slider 22. Themagnetic core 11 is disposed in the direction of the x-axis such that acenter of an image of the magnetic core 11 projected on themagnetooptical disk 1 passes through the contact line C₀ as shown inFIG. 5.

Meanwhile, in the same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K1,the cylindrical surfaces 22 project further towards the magnetoopticaldisk 1 than the magnetic core 11.

Furthermore, as will been seen from FIG. 5, a central pivot axis of thegimbals 31c extends perpendicularly to the contact line C₀ and isdisposed at. a center of the contact line C₀ in the direction of they-axis. The direction R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1 extendsperpendicularly to the contact line C₀.

In the same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K1, the loadbeam 31 is secured to the fixing base 91 and the slider 22 is broughtinto contact, at the cylindrical surfaces 22a, with the magnetoopticaldisk 1.

Next, operation of the transducer supporting apparatus K2 of the abovedescribed arrangement is described. In this embodiment, a main axis ofthe transducer supporting apparatus K2 relative to the magnetoopticaldisk 1 and the direction R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1relative to the transducer supporting apparatus K2 are set in the samemanner as the transducer supporting apparatus K1. Furthermore, sinceoperation of the load beam 31 is the same as that of the transducersupporting apparatus K1, operation of the transducer supportingapparatus K2 at the time the magnetooptical disk 1 is not tilted is alsothe same as that of the transducer supporting apparatus K1 and thus,differences between operation of the transducer supporting apparatus K2and that of the transducer supporting apparatus K1 are mainly described.

In FIG. 6A, the transducer supporting apparatus K2 is viewed in the plusdirection of the x-axis. FIG. 6A shows a case in which themagnetooptical disk 1 is tilted about the x-axis, i.e., an axis notparallel to the contact line C₀. Since the slider 22 is depressedagainst the magnetooptical disk 1 by an elastic restoring force of theload generating portion 31b and the slider 22 is allowed to pivot aboutthe x-axis by action of the gimbals 31c in the same manner as thetransducer supporting apparatus K1, the slider 22 is pivoted inaccordance with the tilt of the magnetooptical disk 1 while thecylindrical surfaces 22a and the magnetooptical disk 1 are being held incontact with each other, so that the slider 22 is held in stable slidingcontact with the magnetooptical disk 1. As a result, since the magneticcore 11 follows the magnetooptical disk 1 completely, excellentefficiency of the transducer supporting apparatus K2 is maintained.

In FIG. 6B, the transducer supporting apparatus K2 is viewed in theminus direction of the y-axis. FIG. 6B shows a case in which themagnetooptical disk 1 is tilted about the y-axis, i.e., an axis parallelto the contact line C₀. Since the slider 22 does not have degree offreedom of pivoting about the y-axis, the slider 22 does not follow thetilt of the magnetooptical disk 1 about the y-axis. However, since thecylindrical surfaces 22a have a generating line parallel to the y-axis,the slider 22 is brought into contact with the magnetooptical disk 1along the contact line C different from the contact line C₀ and thus,the slider 22 is held in stable sliding contact with the magnetoopticaldisk 1.

At this time, since the magnetic core 11 is disposed such that thecenter of the image of the magnetic core 11 projected on themagnetooptical disk 1 passes through the contact line C₀, variations ofdistance between the magnetic core 11 and the magnetooptical disk 1 areminimized even if the actual contact line is shifted to the arbitrarycontact line C.

As described above in this embodiment, the two cylindrical surfaces 22aproject further towards the magnetooptical disk 1 than the magnetic core11 and the contact line C₀ between the cylindrical surfaces 22a and themagnetooptical disk 1 extends perpendicularly to the direction R ofmovement of the magnetooptical disk 1. Moreover, the pivot axis of thegimbals 31c intersects with the contact line C₀ orthogonally and themagnetic core 11 is disposed in the vicinity of the contact line C₀. Asa result, in addition to the effect of the transducer supportingapparatus K1 that sliding contact of the slider 22 with themagnetooptical disk 1 is stabilized, such a remarkable effect also canbe gained that variations of distance between the magnetic core 11 andthe magnetooptical disk 1 at the time of tilt of the magnetooptical disk1 about the axis parallel to the contact line C₀ are reduced sharply. Asa result, efficiency in ratio of strength of magnetic field imparted tothe magnetooptical disk 1 to magnitude of drive current flowing throughthe coil 12 is improved greatly.

Hereinafter, a transducer supporting apparatus K3 according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS.7 and 8. In the same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K1, amagnetic head suitable for a sliding contact type magnetooptical disk isrecited as a transducer also in this embodiment. A right-hand orthogonalsystem of coordinates is defined as shown in these figures. In FIG. 8,the transducer supporting apparatus K3 is viewed in the plus directionof the x-axis. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the magnetooptical disk 1, the magneticcore 11, the coil 12, the load beam 31 and the fixing plate 41 are thesame as those of the transducer supporting apparatus K1.

A slider 23 is made of resinous material in the same manner as theslider 21 of the transducer supporting apparatus K1 and is mounted onthe slider mounting portion 31d in the same manner as the transducersupporting apparatus K1. A cylindrical surface 23a acting as aprojection having a generating line extending in a direction parallel tothe y-axis is formed on one face of the slider 23 confronting themagnetooptical disk 1 and oriented in the minus direction of the z-axis.

At the time the cylindrical surface 23a is brought into contact with themagnetooptical disk 1, a straight contact region extending in parallelwith the y-axis is formed therebetween. A segment extending through acenter of the contact region and bounded by opposite ends of the contactregion is referred to as a contact line C. In case the magnetoopticaldisk 1 is free from defective flatness, etc., the contact line C isdefined as a contact line C₀ as shown in FIG. 7.

The magnetic core 11 and the coil 12 are mounted on the slider 23. Inthe same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K2, the magneticcore 11 is disposed in the direction of the x-axis such that a center ofan image of the magnetic core 11 projected on the magnetooptical disk 1passes through a prolongation of the contact line C₀ as shown in FIG. 7.Meanwhile, in the direction of the y-axis, the magnetic core 11 isdisposed more adjacent to an outer periphery of the magnetooptical disk1 than the cylindrical surface 23a, namely, more adjacent to the outerperiphery of the magnetooptical disk 1 than the contact line C₀. In FIG.7, the outer periphery of the magnetooptical disk 1 corresponds to theminus direction of the y-axis. Hence, the magnetic core 11 is disposedfurther in the minus direction of the y-axis than the contact line C₀.In the same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K1, thedirection R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1 extendsperpendicularly to the contact line C₀, a central pivot axis of thegimbals 31c extends perpendicularly to the contact line C₀. Thecylindrical surface 23a projects further towards the magnetooptical disk1 than the magnetic core 11. In the same manner as the transducersupporting apparatus K1, the load beam 31 is secured to the fixing base91 and the slider 23 is depressed against the magnetooptical disk 1 suchthat the slider 23 is brought into contact, at the cylindrical surface23a, with the magnetooptical disk 1.

Next, operation of the transducer supporting apparatus K3 of the abovedescribed arrangement is described. In this embodiment, a main axis ofthe transducer supporting apparatus K3 relative to the magnetoopticaldisk 1 and the direction R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1relative to the transducer supporting apparatus K3 are set in the samemanner as the transducer supporting apparatus K1. Meanwhile, sinceoperation of the load beam 31 is the same as that of the transducersupporting apparatus K1, operation of the transducer supportingapparatus K3 at the time the magnetooptical disk 1 is not tilted is alsothe same as that of the transducer supporting apparatus K1. Furthermore,in the same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K2, themagnetic core 11 is disposed such that the center of the image of themagnetic core 11 projected on the magnetooptical disk 1 passes throughthe prolongation of the contact line C₀. Therefore, operation of thetransducer supporting apparatus K3 at the time the magnetooptical disk 1is tilted is also the same as that of the transducer supportingapparatus K2. Accordingly, differences between operation of thetransducer supporting apparatus K3 and that of the transducer supportingapparatus K2 are mainly described.

Generally, a protective film, etc. for the recording medium such as themagnetooptical disk 1 are manufactured in a spinning method from astandpoint of its production cost. If the spinning method is employed,coated liquid rises slightly at an outermost periphery of themagnetooptical disk 1 and thus, a convex portion 1a is formed on themagnetooptical disk 1 as shown in FIG. 8. Since the shape of the convexportion 1a is nonuniform, the convex portion 1a makes sliding contact ofthe slider 23 with the magnetooptical disk 1 unstable. Even in the casein which the slider 23 is not adapted to be brought into sliding contactwith the convex portion 1a positively, it may occur that the slider 23reaches the convex portion 1a by overshooting a destination when theslider performs a seeking operation towards the outer periphery of themagnetooptical disk 1.

In this embodiment, since the magnetic core 11 is disposed more adjacentto the outer periphery of the magnetooptical disk 1 than the cylindricalsurface 23a, the cylindrical surface 23a is held out of contact with theconvex portion 1a and thus, the cylindrical surface 23a of the slider 23can be held in stable sliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1.

As described above in this embodiment, the cylindrical surface 23aprojects further towards the magnetooptical disk 1 than the magneticcore 1 and the contact line C₀ between the cylindrical surface 23a andthe magnetooptical disk 1 extends perpendicularly to the direction R ofmovement of the magnetooptical disk 1. In addition, the pivot axis ofthe gimbals 31c intersects with the contact line C₀ orthogonally and themagnetic core 11 is disposed in the vicinity of the contact line C₀ andmore adjacent to the outer periphery of the magnetooptical disk 1 thanthe contact line C₀. Consequently, in addition to the effect of thetransducer supporting apparatus K1 that sliding contact of the slider 23with the magnetooptical disk 1 is stabilized and the effect of thetransducer supporting apparatus K2 that the efficiency of magnetic fieldis improved, such marked effects also can be achieved that thetransducer supporting apparatus K3 can be operated properly even ifdefective portions such as the convex portion 1a are formed at theoutermost periphery of the magnetooptical disk 1 and that designallowance of the magnetooptical disk 1 is increased through increase ofan outer peripheral margin of the magnetooptical disk 1 againstovershooting of the slider 23.

Hereinafter, a transducer supporting apparatus K4 according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS.9 to 11B. In the same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K1,a magnetic head suitable for a sliding contact type magnetooptical diskis recited as a transducer also in this embodiment. A right-handorthogonal system of coordinates is defined as shown in these figures.In FIG. 10B, the transducer supporting apparatus K4 is viewed in theplus direction of the y-axis. The transducer supporting apparatus K4 isviewed in the plus direction of the x-axis in FIG. 11A, while thetransducer supporting apparatus K4 is viewed in the plus direction ofthe y-axis.

In FIGS. 9, 10A, 10B, 11A and 11B, the magnetooptical disk 1, themagnetic core 11 and the coil 12 are the same as those of the transducersupporting apparatus K1. In FIG. 9, a slider 24 is made of resinousmaterial in the same manner as the slider 23 of the transducersupporting apparatus K3. Substantially in the same manner as thetransducer supporting apparatus K3, a cylindrical surface 24a acting asa projection having a generating line extending in a direction parallelto the y-axis is formed on one face of the slider 24 oriented in theminus direction of the z-axis. The contact line C₀, the magnetic core 11and the coil 12 are provided on the slider 24 in the same manner as theslider 23 of the transducer supporting apparatus K3.

In FIG. 9, a load beam 32 acts not only as a loading means fordepressing the slider 24 against the magnetooptical disk 1 but as apivot means for causing the slider 24 to follow the tilt, etc. of themagnetooptical disk 1. The load beam 32 is made of stainless steel inthe same manner as the load beam 31 of the transducer supportingapparatus K1. The load beam 32 is constituted by a rigid portion 32ahaving large rigidity about the y-axis to bending, a load generatingportion 32b and a flat platelike fixing portion 32e extendingcontinuously from the load generating portion 32b. The load generatingportion 32b is formed by subjecting a flat platelike member tosubstantially cylindrical plastic deformation about the y-axis. Thefixing portion 32e to which a fixing plate 42 is attached is providedfor securing the transducer supporting apparatus K3 to a fixing base 92.The fixing plate 42, the load generating portion 32b, the rigid portion32a and the slider 24 are coupled with each other sequentially in thisorder. A direction oriented from the fixing plate 42 towards the slider24 coincides with the direction R of movement of the magnetooptical disk1.

As shown in FIG. 10A, character M is defined as a centerline of the loadbeam 32. A plane containing the centerline M and extendingperpendicularly to the magnetooptical disk 1 is defined here as aneutral plane. A rectangular opening 32d substantially symmetric at withrespect to the neutral plane is formed on the load generating portion32b and thus, a pair of the remaining portions of the load generatingportion 32b are used as a pair of leaf springs 32c, respectively. Theseleaf springs 32c are symmetrical with respect to the neutral plane andextend in the direction R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1. Theleaf springs 32c are arranged to be actuated substantially independentlyof each other. When the leaf springs 32c are actuated in identicalphase, the leaf springs 32c impart to the slider 24 a degree of freedomof translation in a direction parallel to the z-axis. On the contrary,when the leaf springs 32c are actuated in reverse phases, the leafsprings 32c impart to the slider 24 a degree of freedom of pivotingabout an axis parallel to the x-axis such that its pivot center isdisposed substantially at the centerline M.

Therefore, in this embodiment, since the load generating portion 32bimparts to the slider 24 a force for depressing the slider 24 againstthe magnetooptical disk 1 and a degree of freedom of pivoting, the meansacting not only as the loading means but as the pivotal means isconstituted by the rigid portion 32a, the load generating portion 32band the fixing portion 32e. Since the width of the leaf springs 32c isnot less than two times larger than that of the gimbals 31c of thetransducer supporting apparatus K1, the permissible error of the leafsprings 32c increases and thus, the leaf springs 32c can be manufacturedby blanking.

The metallic fixing plate 42 for increasing rigidity of the fixingportion 32e at the time the fixing portion 32e is attached to the fixingbase 92 is secured to the fixing portion 32e by spot welding, etc. Twoscrew holes 32f are formed on the fixing portion 32e and arecontinuously communicated with two screw holes 42a on the fixing plate42, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 10A, at one end of the load beam 32 in the minusdirection of the x-axis, the slider 24 is attached to the load beam 32by techniques such as ultrasonic fusion bonding such that the contactline C₀ of the slider 24 not only extends perpendicularly to thecenterline M of the load beam 32 but is bisected by the centerline M.Therefore, a central pivot axis of the leaf springs 32c extendsperpendicularly to the contact line C₀ and passes through a center ofthe contact line C₀ in the direction of the y-axis.

In case the transducer supporting apparatus K3 is applied to themagnetooptical disk 1 as in this embodiment, the fixing base 92 isgenerally a structure extending continuously from an optical head (notshown). The fixing base 92 is accessible in the radial direction of themagnetooptical disk 1, i.e., in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 10Aby a known seeking mechanism (not shown).

Next, operation of the transducer supporting apparatus K4 of the abovedescribed arrangement is described. In this embodiment, the centerline Mof the load beam 32 is set at a main axis of the transducer supportingapparatus K4 such that the main axis of the transducer supportingapparatus K4 extends in a tangential direction of the magnetoopticaldisk 1. As a result, the contact line C₀ is parallel to the radialdirection of the magnetooptical disk 1 and thus, extends perpendicularlyto the direction R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1.

When the transducer supporting apparatus K4 has been mounted on thefixing base 92 by using screws (not shown) or the like at the fixingportion 32e as shown in FIG. 10B, the cylindrical surface 24a of theslider 24 is brought into contact with the magnetooptical disk 1, sothat the load generating portion 32b is elastically deformed to asubstantially flat shape by force applied from the magnetooptical disk 1to the slider 24 and thus, the rigid portion 32a becomes substantiallyparallel to the magnetooptical disk 1. As a result, the slider 24 isdepressed against the magnetooptical disk 1 through the rigid portion32a by elastic restoring force of the load generating portion 32b.

Initially, in case the magnetooptical disk 1 has neither displacementnor tilt due to defective flatness, etc., the cylindrical surface 24 isbrought into contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 at the contactregion in the vicinity of the contact line C₀ as shown in FIG. 10A. Whenthe magnetooptical disk 1 is rotated about the z-axis in the directionof the arrow R by a spindle motor (not shown), the cylindrical surface24a is brought into sliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1.Since the fixing base 92 can be set in the direction of the arrow B ofFIG. 10A, the slider 24 can be set to a desired location on themagnetooptical disk 1.

Due to friction between the slider 24 and the magnetooptical disk 1 inFIG. 10B, the sliding frictional force Fs is applied to the slider 24 inthe minus direction of the x-axis, so that a moment about the y-axissimilar to that of the transducer supporting apparatus K1 is applied tothe rigid portion 32a. Supposing that character H denotes a distance Ibetween the magnetooptical disk 1 and the rigid portion 32a, this momentis expressed by Fs×I. However, the rigid portion 32a is allowed to bepivoted only about the x-axis by action of the leaf springs 32c but hasquite large rigidity against the above mentioned moment about the y-axisand therefore, is not pivoted about the y-axis. Accordingly, since theattitude of the slider 24 is kept stable against the sliding frictionalforce Fs, undesirable pitching motions of the prior art do not occur inthe slider 24.

Meanwhile, since a direction oriented from the fixing portion 32etowards the slider 24 is made coincident with the direction R ofmovement of the magnetooptical disk 1, the sliding frictional force Fsis applied so as to pull the load generating portion 32b at all timesand therefore, is not applied to the load generating portion 32btransversely to the main axis or in a buckling direction. Hence, theslider 24 is held in quite stable sliding contact with themagnetooptical disk 1 without abnormal vibrations of the transducersupporting apparatus K4. If the coil 12 is turned on in this state, amagnetic field for recording or erasure is imparted to themagnetooptical disk 1 through the magnetic core 11. Since recording perse on the magnetooptical disk 1 is well known, its description isabbreviated for the sake of brevity.

Next, operation of the transducer supporting apparatus K4 in the casewhere the magnetooptical disk 1 is tilted due to its defective flatness,etc. is described. In FIG. 11A, the transducer supporting apparatus K4is viewed in the plus direction of the x-axis. FIG. 11A shows a case inwhich the magnetooptical disk 1 is tilted about the x-axis, i.e., anaxis not parallel to the contact line C₀. The slider 24 is depressedagainst the magnetooptical disk 1 by the elastic restoring force of theload generating portion 32b and can be pivoted about the x-axis byaction of the leaf springs 32c. Namely, the leaf springs 32c deflect theslider 24 independently of each other so as to pivot the slider 24 aboutthe x-axis. Therefore, the slider 24 is pivoted in accordance with thetilt of the magnetooptical disk 1 while the cylindrical surface 24a andthe magnetooptical disk 1 are being held in contact with each other, sothat the cylindrical surface 24a is held in stable sliding contact withthe magnetooptical disk 1. As a result, the magnetic core 11 follows themagnetooptical disk 1 completely and thus, excellent efficiency of thetransducer supporting apparatus K4 is maintained.

In FIG. 1lB, the transducer supporting apparatus K4 is viewed in theplus direction of the y-axis. FIG. 11B shows a case in which themagnetooptical disk 1 is tilted about the y-axis, i.e., an axis parallelto the contact line C₀. Since the slider 24 does not have a degree offreedom of pivoting about the y-axis, the slider 24 is not capable offollowing the tilt of the magnetooptical disk 1 about the y-axis.However, since the cylindrical surface 24a having the generating lineparallel to y-axis is provided, the cylindrical surface 24 is broughtinto contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 along the contact line Cdifferent from the contact line C₀. Accordingly, the cylindrical surface24 is held in stable sliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1.

At this time, the magnetic core 11 is disposed such that the center ofthe image of the magnetic core 11 projected on the magnetooptical disk 1passes through the contact line C₀ in the same manner as the transducersupporting apparatuses K2 and K3. Thus, even if the actual contact lineis shifted to the arbitrary contact line C, variations of distancebetween the magnetic core 11 and the magnetooptical disk 1 areminimized.

Meanwhile, in this embodiment, a pair of the leaf springs 32c formed ata portion of the load generating portion are employed as load generatingelements for effecting pivotal movement but may be replaced by wires ifdesign conditions permit. It is needless to say that two or more pairsof leaf springs may be used as the load generating elememnts.

Furthermore, in order to form the loading means and the pivot meansintegrally in this embodiment, a method is employed in which therectangular opening 32d is provided at the load generating portion 32bso as to form the leaf springs 32c but may also be replaced by anothermethod. For example, such a method may be employed in which the distancebetween the leaf springs 32c is reduced so as to lessen resistanceagainst pivoting of the slider 24. In a further method, a single platemember is concentrated at the main axis such that the slider 24 ispivoted only through torsion.

FIG. 12 shows a modification K4' of the transducer supporting apparatusK4, in which the load beam 37 acts not only as the loading means but asthe pivot means. A load generating portion 37b of the load beam 37 has atriangular plate portion 37d and a waist portion 37c having a smallcross-sectional area in the vicinity of one of the vertexes of thetriangular plate portion 37d. Other ;portions of the load beam 37 arethe same as those of the load beam 32 of the transducer supportingapparatus K4. Since other constructions of the transducer supportingapparatus K4' are similar to those of the transducer supportingapparatus K4, the description is abbreviated for the sake of brevity.

Since the waist portion 37c is readily pivoted about the x-axis, thewaist portion 37c imparts to the slider 24 a degree of pivoting aboutthe x-axis. Meanwhile, through elastic deformation of the triangularplate portion 37d, the triangular plate portion 37d imparts to theslider 24 a force for depressing the slider 24 against themagnetooptical disk 1. Therefore, the means acting not only as theloading means but as the pivot means is constituted by a rigid portion37a, the load generating portion 37b and a fixing portion 37e. Sincecross-sectional area of the triangular plate portion 37d is graduallyincreased in a direction towards the fixing portion 37e, stress appliedto the triangular plate portion 37d at the time the slider 24 is broughtinto contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 is dispersed.

As described above in this embodiment, the cylindrical surface 24aprojects further towards the magnetooptical disk 1 than the magneticcore 11, the contact line C₀ between the cylindrical surface 24a and themagnetooptical disk 1 extends perpendicularly to the direction R ofmovement of the magnetooptical disk 1 and the means acting not only asthe loading means but as the pivot means is constituted by the rigidportion 37a, the load generating portion 37b and the fixing portion 37e.Furthermore, the pivot axis intersects with the contact line C₀orthogonally, the magnetic core 11 is disposed adjacent to the contactline C₀ and the magnetic core 11 is disposed more adjacent to the outerperiphery of the magnetooptical disk 1 than the contact line C₀.Consequently, in addition to the effect of the transducer supportingapparatus K1 that sliding contact of the slider 24 with themagnetooptical disk 1 is stabilized, the effect of the transducersupporting apparatus K2 that efficiency of magnetic field imparted tothe magnetooptical field 1 is improved and the effect of the transducersupporting apparatus K3 that travel of the slider 24 at the outermostperiphery of the magnetooptical disk 1 is stabilized, the complicatedconstructions such as the gimbals 31c of the transducer supportingapparatuses K1 to K3 are not required to be provided in the transducersupporting apparatus K4 and thus, the load beam 32 including the pivotmeans can be manufactured by pressing, thereby resulting in sharpreduction of production costs of the transducer supporting apparatus K4.

Meanwhile, since the direction oriented from the fixing portion 37etowards the slider 24 is made coincident with the direction R ofmovement of the magnetooptical disk 1, resonance of the transducersupporting apparatus K4 due to buckling of the load generating portion37b and load applied to the load generating portion 37b transversely tothe main axis.

Hereinafter, a transducer supporting apparatus K5 according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS.13 and 14. In the same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K1,a magnetic head suitable for a sliding contact type magnetooptical diskis employed as a transducer also in this embodiment. A right-handorthogonal system of coordinates is defined as shown in these figures.In FIG. 14, the transducer supporting apparatus K5 is viewed in the plusdirection of the y-axis.

In FIG. 14, the magnetooptical disk 1 and the fixing base 92 are thesame as those of the transducer supporting apparatus K4. A cylindricalsurface 25a of a slider 25 has a shape entirely identical with that ofthe cylindrical surface 24a of the slider 24 of the transducersupporting apparatus K4. Layout of the cylindrical surface 25a, themagnetic core 11 and the incorporated coil 12 (not shown) and definitionof the contact line C₀, etc. are the same as those of the transducersupporting apparatus K4.

However, in this embodiment, a rigid portion 33a of a load beam 33 ismade of resin and a slider 25 made of resin is formed integrally withthe rigid portion 33a. The resin preferably includes liquid crystalpolymer, nylon, etc. A platelike fixing portion 43 is made of resin andis formed with two screw holes 43a for mounting the fixing portion 43 onthe fixing base 92. From a standpoint of mass-production efficiency, itis preferable that the fixing portion 43 should be made of resinidentical with that of the rigid portion 33a.

A flat plate 34 acting in the same manner as the load generating portion31b of the transducer supporting apparatus K1 is not subjected toplastic bending performed in the transducer supporting apparatuses K1 toK4. By forming a rectangular opening in the flat plate 34 in the samemanner as the load generating portion 32b of the transducer supportingapparatus K4, a pair of leaf springs 34a are formed on the flat plate34. The flat plate 34 is made of stainless steel or the like in the samemanner as the load beams 31 and 32 of the transducer supportingapparatuses K1 to K4. Since the flat plate 34 is simple in shape, theflat plate 34 can be manufactured by pressing in the same manner as theload beam 32 of the transducer supporting apparatus K4.

The rigid portion 33a and the fixing portion 43 are coupled with eachother by insert molding of the flat plate 34. At the time of insertmolding of the flat plate 34, a predetermined angle S₁ about the y-axisis formed between the rigid portion 33a and the flat plate 34 and apredetermined angle S₂ about the y-axis is formed between the fixingportion 43 and the flat plate 34.

In the same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K4, the meansacting not only as the loading means but as the pivot means isconstituted by the rigid portion 33a, the flat plate 34 and the fixingportion 43. Also in this embodiment, the contact line C₀ extendsperpendicularly to the direction R of movement of the magnetoopticaldisk 1.

Next, operation of the transducer supporting apparatus K5 of the abovedescribed arrangement is described. When the fixing portion 43 ismounted on the fixing base 92, the cylindrical surface 25a is broughtinto contact with the magnetooptical disk 1, so that the rigid portion33a deforms the a flat plate 34 from flat shape to a cylindrical shapeand thus, the cylindrical surface 25a is depressed against themagnetooptical disk 1 by elastic a restoring force of the flat plate 34.Therefore, the flat plate 34 is operated in entirely the same manner asthe load generating portion 32b of the transducer supporting apparatusK4. Since the slider 25 follows the tilt of the magnetooptical disk 1 inthe same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K4, thedescription is abbreviated for the sake of brevity.

Meanwhile, the method of this embodiment in which the rigid portion 33a,the flat plate 34 and the fixing portion 43 act not only as the loadingmeans but as the pivot means may also be replaced by that of thetransducer supporting apparatus K4.

In the same manner as the first to fourth embodiments, the cylindricalsurface 25a projects further towards the magnetooptical disk 1 than themagnetic core 11, the contact line C₀ between the cylindrical surface25a and the magnetooptical disk 1 extends perpendicularly to thedirection R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1, the means actingnot only as the loading means but as the pivot means is constituted bythe rigid portion 33a, the flat plate 34 and the fixing portion 43, thepivot axis intersects with the contact line C₀ orthogonally, themagnetic core 11 is disposed adjacent to the contact line C₀, themagnetic core 11 is disposed more adjacent to the outer periphery of themagnetooptical disk 1 than the contact line C₀ and the directionoriented from the fixing portion 43 towards the slider 25 is madecoincident with the direction R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1in this embodiment. Consequently, the effect of the transducersupporting apparatus K1 that sliding contact of the slider 21 with themagnetooptical disk 1 is stabilized, the effect of the transducersupporting apparatus K2 that efficiency of magnetic field is improved,the effect of the transducer supporting apparatus K3 that the slider 23stably travels at the outermost periphery of the magnetooptical disk 1and the effects of the transducer supporting apparatus K4 thatproduction of the load beam 32 by pressing lowers its production costand resonance of the transducer supporting apparatus K4 is prevented canbe gained in this embodiment.

In addition to the above described effects of the transducer supportingapparatuses K1 to K4, since the rigid portion 33a is molded by resin,bending of the rigid portion 31a in the first to fourth embodiments isnot required to be performed in this embodiment.

Meanwhile, since the rigid portion 33a is molded integrally with theslider 25, the process for bonding the slider to the load beam, which isrequired to be performed in the first to fourth embodiments, can beeliminated.

Furthermore, when the fixing portion 43 is molded by resin and the flatplate 34 is formed by insert molding, the process for spot welding thefixing plate to the fixing portion, which is required to be performed inthe first to fourth embodiments, can be eliminated.

Moreover, since the load generating portion employed in the first tofourth embodiments is replaced by the flat plate 34 and the flat plate34 is subjected to insert molding so as to form the predetermined angleswith the rigid portion 33a and the fixing portion 43, respectively,plastic bending for forming the load generating portion of the first tofourth embodiments is eliminated, thereby resulting in great reductionof production costs of the transducer supporting apparatus K5.

Hereinafter, a transducer supporting apparatus K6 according to a sixthembodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS.15 to 16B. In the same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K1,a magnetic head suitable for a sliding contact type magnetooptical diskis employed as a transducer also in this embodiment. A right-handorthogonal system of coordinates is defined as shown in these figures.The transducer supporting apparatus K6 is viewed in the plus directionof the x-axis in FIG. 16A, while the transducer supporting apparatus K6is viewed in the plus direction of the y-axis in FIG. 16B.

The transducer supporting apparatus K6 as a whole is structurallysimilar to the transducer supporting apparatus K5. The magnetoopticaldisk 1, the magnetic core 11, the fixing portion 43 and the flat plate34 of the transducer supporting apparatus K6 are the same as those ofthe transducer supporting apparatus K5. The fixing portion 43 is mountedon the fixing base 92 of FIG. 10B.

In FIG. 15, a rigid portion 35a of a load beam 35 has a shape identicalwith that of the rigid portion 33a of the transducer supportingapparatus K5 and only a slider 26 is different from the slider 25 of thetransducer supporting apparatus K5. In the same manner as the transducersupporting apparatus K5, the slider 26 is formed integrally with therigid portion 35a. Two spherical surfaces 26a and 26b having centersspaced in a direction parallel to the y-axis project from one face ofthe slider 26 oriented in the minus direction of the z-axis.

When the spherical surfaces 26a and 26b are brought into contact withthe magnetooptical disk 1, two minute circular contact regions arrangedin a direction parallel to the y-axis are formed therebetween. A segmentconnecting centers of the circular contact regions is referred to as acontact line C and the contact line C is defined as a contact line C₀ asshown in FIG. 15 in case the magnetooptical disk 1 is free fromdefective flatness, etc.

It is preferable that the spherical surfaces 26a and 26b are disposedsuch that an interval between the two circular contact regions ismaximized. For example, in FIG. 15, the interval between the twocircular contact regions is increased under restrictions on shapeimposed by the slider 26 and the magnetic core 11. As a result, thespherical surfaces 26a and 26b are partially deleted by an outer wall ofthe slider 26 and a hole for the magnetic core 11 but care should takenthat vertex portions of the spherical surfaces 26a and 26b are formedwithout fail.

Layout of the magnetic core 11 and the coil 12 relative to the contactline C₀ is identical with that of the transducer supporting apparatusesK3 to K5. In the same manner as the first to fifth embodiments, thecontact line C₀ intersects with the direction R of movement of themagnetooptical disk 1 orthogonally.

In the same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K5, the flatplate 34 is subjected to insert molding so as to form the predeterminedangles S₁ and S₂ with the rigid portion 35a and the fixing portion 43,respectively. The means acting not only as the loading means but as thepivot means is constituted by the rigid portion 35a, the flat plate 34and the fixing portion 43.

Next, operation of the transducer supporting apparatus K6 of the abovedescribed arrangement is described. In the same manner as the transducersupporting apparatus K5, the transducer supporting apparatus K6 isdisposed such that a main axis of the transducer supporting apparatus K6extends in the tangential direction of the magnetooptical disk 1. As aresult, the contact line C₀ extends in parallel with the radialdirection of the magnetooptical disk 1. Since operation of thetransducer supporting apparatus K6 is substantially the same as that ofthe transducer supporting apparatus K5, points different from those ofthe transducer supporting apparatus K5 are mainly described.

FIG. 16A shows a case in which the magnetooptical disk 1 is tilted aboutthe x-axis, i.e., an axis not parallel to the contact line C₀. Theslider 26 is depressed against the magnetooptical disk 1 by an elasticrestoring force of the flat plate 34 and the slider 26 can be pivotedabout the x-axis by action of the leaf springs 34a. Namely, the leafsprings 34a deflect the slider 26 independently of each other so as topivot the slider 26 about the x-axis. Therefore, the slider 26 ispivoted such that the two spherical surfaces 26a and 26b are broughtinto contact with the magnetooptical disk 1 as shown in FIG. 16A.

Accordingly, the slider 26 is pivoted in accordance with the tilt of themagnetooptical disk 1 while the slider 26 is being held in contact withthe magnetooptical disk 1, so that the slider 26 is held in stablesliding contact with the magnetooptical disk 1. As a result, themagnetic core 11 follows the magnetooptical disk 1 completely and thus,excellent efficiency of the transducer supporting apparatus K6 ismaintained.

FIG. 16B shows a case in which the magnetooptical disk 1 is tilted aboutthe y-axis, i.e., an axis parallel to the contact line C₀. Since theslider 26 does not have a degree of freedom of pivoting about they-axis, the slider 26 does not follow the tilt of the magnetoopticaldisk 1. However, since the spherical surfaces 26a and 26b having thecenters spaced in parallel with the y-axis are formed, and the sphericalsurfaces 26a and 26b are brought into contact with the magnetoopticaldisk 1 along the contact line C different from the contact line C₀, theslider 26 is held in stable sliding contact with the magnetooptical disk1.

At this time, the magnetic core 11 is disposed such that the center ofthe image of the magnetic core 11 projected on the magnetooptical disk 1passes through the contact line C₀ in the same manner as the second tofifth embodiments. Therefore, even if the actual contact line is shiftedto the arbitrary contact line C, variations of distance between themagnetic core 11 and the magnetooptical disk 1 are minimized.

Since the spherical surfaces 26a and 26b are projected from the slider26, the contact regions viewed in the direction opposite to thedirection R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1 exhibit twospotlike contact portions as shown in FIG. 16A and thus, the area of thecontact portions is reduced greatly in comparison with those of thefirst to fifth embodiments employing the cylindrical surface projectingfrom the slider.

Therefore, even in case foreign matter such as dust is present on themagnetooptical disk 1, the probability that the dust will adhere to theslider 26 is sharply reduced. Furthermore, since the spherical surfaces26a and 26b are projected from the slider 26, the spherical surfaces 26aand 26b are convex curved surfaces and therefore, do not include concaveportions. Accordingly, the spherical surfaces 26a and 26b do not haveportions for storing dust. As a result, the excellent sliding propertyof the slider 26 present at an initial stage can be maintained for along period.

Furthermore, since an interval between the spherical surfaces 26a and26b is maximized, the interval between the contact regions is increased.Thus, in case the magnetooptical disk 1 is tilted about the x-axis,i.e., an axis not parallel to the contact line C₀, the magnitude of themoment applied to the slider 26 in a rolling direction of the flat plate34 becomes sufficiently large, so that sensitivity of the slider 26 totilt of the magnetooptical disk 1 reaches its maximum and thus, theslider 26 is capable of following the magnetooptical disk 1 excellently.

Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the two spherical surfaces 26a and 26bare recited as one example in which a minimum contact line of theprojections is obtained but three or more spherical surfaces may also beprovided along the contact line. In this case, durability of the slider26 will be improved due to distribution of contact stress.

As described above in this embodiment, the two spherical surfaces 26aand 26b project further towards the magnetooptical disk 1 than themagnetic core 11, the contact line C₀ between the cylindrical surfaces26 and 26b and the magnetooptical disk 1 extends perpendicularly to thedirection R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1, the means actingnot only as the loading means but as the pivot means is constituted bythe rigid portion 35a, the flat plate 34 and the fixing portion 43 andthe pivot axis of the pivot means intersects with the contact line C₀orthogonally. Furthermore, the magnetic core 11 is disposed adjacent tothe contact line C₀, the magnetic core 11 is disposed more adjacent tothe outer periphery of the magnetooptical disk 1 than the contact lineC₀, the direction oriented from the fixing portion 43 towards the slider26 is made coincident with the direction R of movement of themagnetooptical disk 1, the rigid portion 35a and the slider 26 areformed integrally with each other by resin and the rigid portion 35a andthe fixing portion 43 are coupled with each other by insert molding ofthe flat plate 34.

Consequently, the effect of the transducer supporting apparatus K1 thatsliding contact of the slider 26 with the magnetooptical disk 1 isstabilized, the effect of the transducer supporting apparatus K2 thatefficiency of magnetic field is improved, the effect of the transducersupporting apparatus K3 that the slider 23 stably travels at theoutermost periphery of the magnetooptical disk 1, the effects of thetransducer supporting apparatus K4 that production of the load beam 32by pressing lowers its production cost and resonance of the transducersupporting apparatus K4 is prevented and the effect of the transducersupporting apparatus K5 that production cost of the load beam 33 islowered by reducing the number of the production processes throughinsert molding of the flat plate 34 can be achieved in this embodiment.

In addition to the above mentioned effects of the transducer supportingapparatuses K1 to K5, such remarkable effects can be gained thatdeposition of dust on the slider 26 is minimized through reduction ofthe contact regions and excellent sliding property of the slider 26 atan initial stage can be maintained for a long period.

Finally, a transducer supporting apparatus K7 according to a seventhembodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIG.17. In the same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K1, amagnetic head suitable for a sliding contact type magnetooptical disk isemployed as a transducer also in this embodiment. A right-handorthogonal system of coordinates is defined as shown in FIG. 17.

Except for the shape of a projection on a slider 27, the transducersupporting apparatus K7 as a whole is structurally similar to thetransducer supporting apparatus K6. In FIG. 17, the magnetic core 11,the fixing portion 43 and the flat plate 34 are the same as those of thetransducer supporting apparatus K6. Meanwhile, the transducer supportingapparatus K7 is arranged to be used for the magnetooptical disk 1 of thetransducer supporting apparatus K6. The fixing portion 43 is mounted onthe fixing base 92 of FIG. 10B.

In FIG. 17, a rigid portion 36a of a load beam 36 is identical, also inits material, with that of the transducer supporting apparatus K6. Inthe same manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K6, the slider 27is formed integrally with the rigid portion 36a. Two elliptic surfaces27a and 27b having centers spaced in a direction parallel to the y-axisproject from one face of the slider 27 oriented in the minus directionof the z-axis. In the transducer supporting apparatus K7, a major axisand a minor axis of each of the elliptic surfaces 27a and 27b extend indirections of the x-axis and the y-axis, respectively, and a length ofthe minor axis of each of the elliptic surfaces 27a and 27b is set to beequal to a diameter of each of the spherical surfaces 26a and 26b of thetransducer supporting apparatus K6.

When the elliptic surfaces 27a and 27b are brought into contact with themagnetooptical disk 1, two elliptical contact regions each having amajor axis extending in the direction parallel with the x-axis arearranged side by side in the direction of the y-axis. A segmentconnecting centers of the elliptic contact regions is referred to as acontact line C and the contact line C is defined as a contact line C₀ asshown in FIG. 17 in case the magnetooptical disk 1 is free fromdefective flatness, etc.

Meanwhile, for the same reason as that of the sixth embodiment, aninterval between the spherical surfaces 27a and 27b is maximized. In thesame manner as the transducer supporting apparatus K6, the magnetic core11 and the coil 12 (not shown) are mounted on the slider 27. In thetransducer supporting apparatus K7, the magnetic core 11 and the coil 12are disposed relative to the contact line C₀ in the same manner as thethird to sixth embodiments. In the same manner as the first to sixthembodiments, the contact line C₀ is disposed so as to extendperpendicularly to the direction R of movement of the magnetoopticaldisk 1.

In the same manner as the sixth embodiment, the flat plate 34 issubjected to insert molding so as to form the predetermined angles S₁and S₂ with the rigid portion 36a and the fixing portion 43,respectively. The means acting not only as the loading means but as thepivot means is constituted by the rigid portion 36a, the flat plate 34and the fixing portion 43. In the same manner as the fifth embodiment,the transducer supporting apparatus K7 is disposed such that a main axisof the transducer supporting apparatus K7 extends in the tangentialdirection of the magnetooptical disk 1. As a result, the contact line C₀becomes parallel to the radial direction of the magnetooptical disk 1.

Operation of the transducer supporting apparatus K7 is substantially thesame as that of the transducer supporting apparatus K6 and thus, thedescription is abbreviated for the sake of brevity. However, since thearea of the contact regions in the transducer supporting apparatus K7 isdifferent from that of the transducer supporting apparatus K6, thesliding state of the slider 27 in the transducer supporting apparatus K7is different from that of the slider 26 of the transducer supportingapparatus K6. Namely, in the transducer supporting apparatus K7, sincethe spherical surfaces 26a and 26b of the transducer supportingapparatus K6 are replaced by the elliptic surfaces 27a and 27b eachhaving its major axis extending in the direction parallel to the x-axis,the area of the contact regions is larger than that of the transducersupporting apparatus K6. Therefore, contact pressure in the transducersupporting apparatus K7 can be reduced as compared with that of thetransducer supporting apparatus K6. As a result, wear of the slider 27can be lessened and thus, durability of the transducer supportingapparatus K7 is improved.

Furthermore, since the length of the minor axis of each of the ellipticsurfaces 27a and 27b in the direction of the y-axis is set to be equalto the diameter of each of the spherical surfaces 26a and 26b of thetransducer supporting apparatus K6, the width of the contact regionsviewed in the direction of the x-axis, i.e., in the direction oppositeto the direction R of movement of the magnetooptical disk 1 issubstantially the same as that of the transducer supporting apparatusK6. Accordingly, in the transducer supporting apparatus K7, since theprobability of deposition of dust does not rise, the excellent slidingproperty of the slider 27 at an initial stage can be maintained for along period. Meanwhile, since contact pressure between the slider 27 andthe magnetooptical disk 1 drops, service life of a sliding contact filmof the magnetooptical disk 1 is also lengthened.

As described in this embodiment, the two elliptic surfaces 27a and 27bproject further towards the magnetooptical disk 1 than the magnetic core11, the contact line C₀ between the elliptic surfaces 27a and 27b andthe magnetooptical disk 1 extends perpendicularly to the direction R ofmovement of the magnetooptical disk 1, the means acting not only as theloading means but as the pivot means is constituted by the rigid portion36a, the flat plate 36 and the fixing portion 43 and the pivot axis ofthe pivot means intersects with the contact line C₀ orthogonally.Moreover, the magnetic core 11 is disposed adjacent to the contact lineC₀, the magnetic core 11 is disposed more adjacent to the outerperiphery of the magnetooptical disk 1 than the contact line C₀, thedirection oriented from the fixing portion 43 towards the slider 27 ismade coincident with the direction R of movement of the magnetoopticaldisk 1, the rigid portion 36a and the fixing portion 43 are formedintegrally with each other by resin and the rigid portion 36a and thefixing portion 43 are coupled with each other by insert molding of theflat plate 34.

Consequently, the effect of the transducer supporting apparatus K1 thatsliding contact of the slider 27 with the magnetooptical disk 1 isstabilized, the effect of the transducer supporting apparatus K2 thatefficiency of magnetic field is improved, the effect of the transducersupporting apparatus K3 that the slider 23 stably travels at theoutermost periphery of the magnetooptical disk 1, the effects of thetransducer supporting apparatus K4 that production of the load beam 32by pressing lowers its production cost and resonance of the transducersupporting apparatus K4 is prevented, the effect of the transducersupporting apparatus K5 that production cost of the load beam 33 islowered by reducing the number of the production processes throughinsert molding of the flat plate 34 and the effect of the transducersupporting apparatus K6 that deposition of dust on the slider 26 islessened can be achieved in this embodiment.

In addition to the above described effects of the transducer supportingapparatuses K1 to K6, such a great effect can be gained that wear of theslider 27 is lessened through reduction of the contact area between theslider 27 and the magnetooptical disk 1 and thus, durability of thetransducer supporting apparatus K7 is improved.

Although the present invention has been fully described in connectionwith the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to theaccompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes andmodifications are apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes andmodifications are to be understood as included within the scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims unless they departtherefrom.

Industrial Applicability

Meanwhile, in the first to seventh embodiments referred to above, themagnetic head for the-magnetooptical disk is employed as the transducer.However, the transducer supporting apparatus of the present invention isnot limited to the magnetic head for the magnetooptical disk but mayalso be applied to other transducers such as a magnetic head for aflexible disk and an optical head.

We claim:
 1. A transducer apparatus for use with a recording medium setat a recording medium location, comprising:a transducer for recordingand reproducing information on a recording medium set at the recordingmedium location; a slider coupled with said transducer and including aprojecting member for protruding towards a recording medium set at therecording medium location, said projecting member defining asubstantially rectilinearly extending contact region at which saidslider is adapted to contact a recording medium, set at the recordingmedium location, along a contact line defined by a segment extendingthrough a substantially longitudinal central axis of said contact regionand bounded by opposite ends of said contact region; wherein saidtransducer is outside of said contact region; a pivot means forpivotally supporting said slider so as to pivot about a pivot axissubstantially perpendicular to said contact line; and a loading meansfor depressing said projecting member against a recording medium set atsaid recording medium location.
 2. A transducer apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, whereinsaid transducer includes an input-output terminal forrecording and reproducing information on a recording medium and isprovided such that a projected image of the input-output terminal isdisposed in the vicinity of a straight line including said contact line.3. A transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid transducercomprises a magnetic head including a magnetic pole for imparting amagnetic field to a recording medium; wherein said projecting member isdesigned to project further towards a recording medium set at therecording medium location than said magnetic pole.
 4. A transducerapparatus as claimed in claim 3, whereinsaid magnetic pole is providedsuch that a center of a projected image of said magnetic pole isdisposed substantially on a straight line including said contact line.5. A transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid loadingmeans is pivotally provided at least partially so as to be pivoted aboutsaid pivot axis such that said loading means and said pivot means areformed integrally with each other.
 6. A transducer apparatus as claimedin claim 5, whereinsaid loading means includes a fixing portion to befixed to a structure provided independently of a recording medium set atthe recording medium location, a load generating portion for generatinga force for depressing said projecting member against a recording mediumset at the recording medium location and a rigid portion formed by asubstantially rigid body; said fixing portion, said load generatingportion, said rigid portion and said slider are provided sequentially inthis order; a plane passing through a center of said contact linesubstantially and extending substantially perpendicularly to a recordingmedium set at the recording medium location is defined as a neutralplane; and said load generating portion is partially formed as at leastone pair of load generating elements disposed at opposite sides of saidneutral plane, respectively.
 7. A transducer apparatus as claimed inclaim 6, whereinat least two leaf springs are formed at a portion ofsaid load generating portion so as to act as said load generatingelements.
 8. A transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 7, whereinsaidslider and said rigid portion of said loading means are formedintegrally with each other by an identical material.
 9. A transducerapparatus as claimed in claim 6, whereinsaid load generating elementsare symmetrical with respect to said neutral plane.
 10. A transducerapparatus as claimed in claim 9, whereinsaid slider and said rigidportion of said loading means are formed integrally with each other byan identical material.
 11. A transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 5,whereinsaid loading means includes a fixing portion to be fixed to astructure provided independently of a recording medium set at therecording medium location, a load generating portion for generating aforce for depressing said projecting member against a recording mediumset at the recording medium location and a rigid portion formed by asubstantially rigid body; said fixing portion, said load generatingportion, said rigid portion and said slider are provided sequentially inthis order; and said load generating portion is formed with areduced-width waist portion.
 12. A transducer apparatus as claimed inclaim 11, whereinsaid slider and said rigid portion of said loadingmeans are formed integrally with each other by an identical material.13. A transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 6, whereinsaid slider andsaid rigid portion of said loading means are formed integrally with eachother by an identical material.
 14. A transducer apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, whereinsaid loading means includes a fixing portion to be fixedto a structure provided independently of a recording medium set at therecording medium location, a load generating portion for generating aforce for depressing said projecting member against a recording mediumset at the recording medium location and a rigid portion formed by asubstantially rigid body; and said fixing portion, said load generatingportion, said rigid portion and said slider are provided sequentially inthis order.
 15. A transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1,whereinsaid projecting member is constituted by at least two projectionsand each of said projections forms a spotlike contact portion in saidcontact region and along said contact line.
 16. A transducer apparatusas claimed in claim 15, whereinsaid contact portions are providedindependently of each other and a contour of each of said contactportions is of a convex curved surface having no straight line.
 17. Atransducer apparatus as claimed in claim 16, whereinsaid slider isformed of resinous material.
 18. A transducer apparatus as claimed inclaim 15, whereinin the vicinity of each of said contact portions, eachof said projections is substantially spherical.
 19. A transducerapparatus as claimed in claim 18, whereinsaid slider is formed ofresinous material.
 20. A transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 15,whereinin the vicinity of each of said contact portions, each of saidprojections is of a substantially elliptic shape having a minor axisparallel to said contact line.
 21. A transducer apparatus as claimed inclaim 15, whereinsaid slider is formed of resinous material.
 22. Atransducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid projectingmember is constituted by two projections; and at least two leaf springsare formed at a portion of said load generating portion so as to act assaid load generating elements.
 23. A transducer apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, whereinsaid slider is formed of resinous material.
 24. Atransducer apparatus for use with a recording medium, comprising:a loadbeam; a transducer, mounted on said load beam, for recording andreproducing information on a recording medium; wherein said load beamincludes a fixing portion to fix said load beam to a structure; whereinsaid load beam includes a slider mounting portion at which said slideris mounted; wherein said load beam includes a load generating portionconnecting said slider mounting portion to said fixing portion forgenerating a load to press said slider in a pressing direction toward arecording medium; wherein said load beam includes a pivot portionconnecting said slider mounting portion to said load generating portionfor allowing said slider mounting portion and said slider to pivot abouta pivot axis; wherein said slider includes a projecting portion forprotruding towards a recording medium to contact a recording mediumalong a contact line in a contact region of said projecting portion; andwherein said transducer is outside of said contact region; wherein saidcontact line is substantially perpendicular to said pivot axis.
 25. Atransducer apparatus as claimed in claim 24, whereinsaid slider includesan input-output terminal portion having a surface for facing in saidpressing direction toward a recording medium; and said projectingportion of said slider projects farther in said pressing direction thansaid input-output terminal portion of said slider.
 26. A transducerapparatus as claimed in claim 25, whereinsaid projecting portion has asurface for facing in said pressing direction toward a recording medium;and said surface of said projecting portion comprises a cylindricalsurface.
 27. A transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 25, whereinsaidprojecting portion has a surface for facing in said pressing directiontoward a recording medium; and said surface of said projecting portioncomprises a pair of cylindrical surfaces disposed respectively onopposite sides of said surface of said input-output terminal portion.28. A transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 25, whereinsaidprojecting portion has a surface for facing in said pressing directiontoward a recording medium; and said surface of said projecting portioncomprises a pair of cylindrical surfaces.
 29. A transducer apparatus asclaimed in claim 24, whereinsaid projecting portion has a surface forfacing in said pressing direction toward a recording medium; and saidsurface of said projecting portion comprises a cylindrical surface. 30.A transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 24, whereinsaid sliderincludes an input-output terminal portion having a surface for facing insaid pressing direction toward a recording medium; said projectingportion has a surface for facing in said pressing direction toward arecording medium; and said surface of said projecting portion comprisesa pair of cylindrical surfaces disposed respectively on opposite sidesof said surface of said input-output terminal portion.
 31. A transducerapparatus as claimed in claim 24, whereinsaid projecting portion has asurface for facing in said pressing direction toward a recording medium;and said surface of said projecting portion comprises a pair ofcylindrical surfaces.